OBR Annual In-Person Meeting: October 11, 2023
On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, the Obtawaing Biosphere Region held its first annual meeting with over 70 attendees representing over 40 partner organizations. The goals of the meeting were to build and strengthen relationships with/ between Biosphere Region partners, learn about existing and developing projects in the region, and to kick off new programs in the biosphere. The meeting hosted presentations on environmental data sharing, indigenous participation in environmental initiatives, coastal wetland resilience planning, the US Biosphere Network, and the Michigan the Beautiful initiative. In addition to presentations, attendees also participated in important conversations on sustainable development, coastal resilience, community involvement, and partnership building in the region. At the end of the meeting, attendees made a pledge to support the biosphere region in a specific and long term goal to be completed in the next six months. This meeting was a solidification of our partnership network and a source of momentum for our projects and programs in the Obtawaing Biosphere Region. We hosted important leaders from the US Biosphere Network, the National Park Service, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority, Bay Mills Indian Community, National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy and US Fish and Wildlife Service to name a few.
The annual meeting began with a ceremony of gratitude facilitated by our steering committee members Emily and Dani to begin our day with mindfulness. This was followed by a welcome and introduction of Obtawaing Biosphere Region by our own steering committee member Adam Schubel and a short talk with Frank Ettawageshik, tribal leader of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. Then followed a series of presentations by our partners on sharing environmental data, the US Biosphere Network, the Michigan the Beautiful program, coastal wetland resilience, and current projects in OBR. Then, attendees came together in small groups to discuss coastal resilience planning, data accessibility, and sustainable development. This meeting was a culmination of years of work and strategic planning, and we were delighted to connect with OBR partners and friends and we hope everyone enjoyed the meaningful conversations and connections made at the annual meeting and will commit to nurturing these partnerships and dialogs into the future.
At the end of the meeting, attendees were asked to write an actional goal to work towards in the next six months that advances the Obtawaing Biosphere Mission that will be mailed back to them at the end of the six month. We hope that OBR partners that did not attend will also participate in this on their own.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the next annual meeting!
